Articles

Steinway Artist Lang Lang to Perform in Benefit Concert for UNICEF (Aiding Children of Haiti)

On Sunday, March 21st at 8:30 p.m., three generations of classical artists - acclaimed pianist Lang Lang, legendary conductor Christoph Eschenbach and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra - come together at Carnegie Hall for a benefit concert aiding UNICEF in their efforts to bring relief to the children surviving the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Eschenbach and Lang Lang had scheduled a 21 city North American tour celebrating their decade-long artistic collaboration, but when the devastating news of the earthquake broke, the artists felt compelled to bring their concert to New York for one night to support UNICEF's efforts in Haiti.

Participating artists have donated their fees for the evening to UNICEF, United Nations Children's Fund. UNICEF's efforts to assist with life-saving and recovery operations in Haiti is focusing on providing clean water and sanitation, therapeutic food for infants and small children, medical supplies and temporary shelter and protection, particularly for children who are separated from their parents or caregivers. Children make up some 50 per cent of the Haitian population.

"I have served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for six years," says Lang Lang, "so it seemed only fitting that an evening that puts young artists in the spotlight also benefit an organization that seeks to improve the lives and futures of the children in need. UNICEF not only helps the children during this crisis, but it also invests in their futures long after the rescue missions and emergency relief have moved on. The lives of these Haitian children have changed forever. UNICEF can provide the children with hope for a brighter future."

The program for the evening features Beethoven's "Leonora No. 3" Overture, Op. 72a; Mozart's Piano concerto No. 17 in G Major, K.453; Prokofiev's Symphony No. 1 (Classique) in D Major, Op. 25 and Piano concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26. Over the course of a month following this engagement, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra will tour an additional 20 cities throughout North American tour, including Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Newark, Austin, Houston, San Diego, and San Francisco. For a complete tour schedule, visit http://www.CAMImusic.com/UNICEF.

For more information, or to buy tickets for the March 21 benefit event, visit the Carnegie Hall web site.

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